Adulterated foods including maple syrup.

[red maples]

I guess there are all sorts of FAKES in the food industry. But not really happy they included maple on here. There really isn't alot of info on the specifics and how many samples was it a big packer etc.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/news-foodfrauds/8/

[DrTimPerkins]

Fairly misleading article.....not surprising at times when reporters try to interpret science. They often like to sensationalize things. The photo and caption associated with the article are quite deceiving also. This has nothing to do with legimate "table" syrups, which are typically corn syrup with artificial maple flavor.

If you go to the US Pharmacopeial database that is referenced in the article, you find 22 entries for "maple syrup." Of those, the first 4 reference a single case in which a RI man tried to sell corn syrup as maple syrup. He was caught and prosecuted as a result of action by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. The UVM PMRC tested some of the syrup sold by this man to a customer. The next 17 hits reference scientific articles in which methods were develped to detect adulteration....not cases of adulteration being reported. The final article is an interview where an official simply says that there is an economic incentive for people to adulterate maple syrup.

So for all this hype, there is just one case involved here of actual adulteration, and that person was caught. Sounds like success to me.

What you may, or may not know, is that for the past decade and a half, the IMSI has had a syrup monitoring program. Random samples and those suspected of possibly being adulterated (by addition of sugars) have been collected in the U.S. and Canada and submitted by members have been tested for adulteration. The UVM Proctor Maple Research Center has acted as the 3rd party in this. We collect the samples and submit them for analysis. Of the hundreds of samples tested, to my recollection, NOT ONE HAS TESTED AS POSITIVE FOR ADULTERATION BY THE ADDITION OF SUGARS. This program is likely to be continuing, with the UVM PMRC serving as the 3rd party handler for U.S. samples, and Centre Acer serving as the 3rd party hander for Canadian samples. We have never received any compensation for this service (other than reimbursement of direct testing expenses and shipping of samples).

In addition, there are other types of adulteration that crop up every now and then. We often hear of these things from various sources. If they seem legitimate, we collect samples, help to develop a quick screening test, and provide these to packers as necessary. Usually all a packer has to do is show up with a test strip or kit and test a few barrels and the word gets around pretty quickly. Even with these things....purposeful adulteration is really quite rare. Inadvertant contamination is more common in my opinion. We don't talk about these much because we a) don't want to give anyone ideas, b) don't want people to know how much we know and c) don't want to let them know how our testing works and what the detection levels are. So you won't see a lot of publications (at least from PMRC) about this. Of the past 15 yrs though, we've probably spend 3-4 yrs of effort on various adulteration issues. I know that Centre Acer also has a very strong program on this subject.

Fortunately the prices of maple syrup are pretty good right now, so there haven't been a lot of issues these past 4-5 years. However with the prevalence of dark and off-flavor syrup crop made last year, there have been some murmurings of ways to make syrup lighter and better tasting. Unless you're doing this during production by using air injection or after production by blending....IT IS ILLEGAL and we have ways to test the syrup.

So for those of you doing the right thing.....wonderful. Thank you. Please realize that PMRC, along with IMSI, the VT Agency of Agriculture, and other state and federal officials are always trying to help keep those who wish to cheat honest. For those who aren't.....we're always checking.

[red maples]

Thanks for that explanation!!! I know these little slide show things aren't always accurate and sometimes seem like they are really grasping at straws, but they are in the mainstream media that we and consumers are bombarded with on a daily basis. I know that the industry is strong and growing everyday, but I personally ust don't like seeing things like this. Its done in poor taste and the information is really taken out of context without the supporting details.

[325abn]

"WE" being UVM??

[DrTimPerkins]

"WE" being UVM??

We being IMSI (the organization and its members, particularly the Directors), UVM PMRC, Centre Acer, various state and provincial agencies (with VT Agency of Agriculture being very active), federal (U.S. and Canada), and many of the larger packing companies (which have their own testing procedures). Generally there is a fair amount of cooperation and coordination in these efforts.

[DrTimPerkins]

Its done in poor taste and the information is really taken out of context without the supporting details.

I agree completely.

[CBOYER]

how could we talk about syrup when we look at 325abn Avatar??? there is no moderation on this site???

[delivron]

While retail products often are place next to real maple syrup it is interesting to hear about the results of UVM's testing program for real syrup.
Recently I had a friend make an accusation that product they purchased from a large retailer was tainted but unfortunately they did not save any product for testing.

But I have recently run into to instances of "Breakfast Syrup" or "Corn Syrup" labeled as "Maple Syrup"

The first time was at the Mystic Ct Marriot Hotel at the IMSI / NAMSC meeting in October on Monday. When the director of food was made aware of the situation as well as the guests present they immediately fixed the problem. The put out small jars of real syrup that interestingly enough were packaged in California with east coast product and then shipped back to CT.

The second was last month at the San Francisco, Union Sq. Hilton. They were informed of the problem but never relabeled "Warm Maple Syrup" as a fake product.

It is apparent that large restaurants are not aware or just don't care about proper labeling of food.

Hopefully congress will eventually pass the Maple Act which will prevent the mislabeling of Maple Syrup.

[DrTimPerkins]

It is apparent that large restaurants are not aware or just don't care about proper labeling of food.

That is a different matter entirely, and a real shame.

[delivron]

This research is on going but read this report from Cornell. http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/pubs/2011%20Maple%20Tubing%20and%20Taphole%20Sanitation %20Research.pdf

This is a slightly different perspective on the same issue. The 17 to 19 cents invested in a spout is a no brainer!
Replacing drops also has a high value too!

[BreezyHill]

If you find a place that fails to properly label this is a USDA & FDA issue. Bring it to their attention and with a few calls to check on the status they will correct the issue. False labeling can result in the confiscation of all mislabeled product. This can be very costly and will get the attention of any business. Use the term misbranded...this is a terminology used within the regulations and agency.

[red maples]

I think you put this in the wrong thread???


This research is on going but read this report from Cornell. http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/pubs/2011%20Maple%20Tubing%20and%20Taphole%20Sanitation %20Research.pdf

This is a slightly different perspective on the same issue. The 17 to 19 cents invested in a spout is a no brainer!
Replacing drops also has a high value too!